Sports ball rack

ABSTRACT

A sports ball rack connectable to a wall, the support member having an upper side, a lower side, an outer periphery which defines the upper side and lower side of the support member, and a plurality of concave areas formed in the upper side of the support member. Each of the concave areas are sized and shaped to receive a portion of at least one ball corresponding to the size and shape of the concave area. A mounting bracket is attached to the support member and extends along a portion of the back side thereof for connecting the sports ball rack to the wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/214,313 filed Jun. 27, 2000 and entitled “SPORTS BALL RACK”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates generally to an assembly for storing sports balls, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved sports ball rack for storing balls used in sports activities.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] It is well known to parents with children of all ages who participate in various sports activities that there is no convenient way to store and organize sports balls such as basketballs, volleyballs, soccer balls, footballs, baseballs and softballs. Frequently these sports balls are strewn about the children's bedroom and closet taking up valuable floor space and giving the room a generally cluttered appearance. Inevitably this disorganization leads to the impossible task of finding the correct sports ball prior to participating in a sporting activity. To this end a need exists for a convenient and inexpensive means of neatly organizing and storing a variety of balls used in sports activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a sports ball rack that comprises a substantially rectangular shaped support member formed of a substantially rigid material. The support member is provided with an upper side, a lower side, and an outer peripheral surface. The upper side of the support member is provided with a plurality of concave areas of varying shapes formed in the upper side of the support member. Each of the plurality of concave areas is sized for receiving a portion of a sports ball. Each of the plurality of concave areas formed in the upper side of the support member corresponding to a convex area formed in the lower side in the support member. The sports ball rack is further provided with a skirt which abuts the outer peripheral surface of the support member for providing a clean and neat appearance. At least one mounting bracket extends from the support member of the sports ball rack for permitting connection of the sports ball rack to a stable object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sports ball rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sports ball rack being connected to a supporting structure.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sports ball rack of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sports ball rack taken along line 3-3 thereof FIG. 2.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sports ball rack constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another sports ball rack constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sports ball rack of FIG. taken along line 6-6 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a sports ball rack 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The sports ball rack 10 provides a simple and convenient way to organize and store balls used in sporting activities such a basketball 12, a soccer ball 14, a football 16, a plurality of baseballs and/or softballs 18, as well as a wide variety of other balls used in sporting activities.

[0015] The sports ball rack 10 is substantially rectangular in configuration and is formed from a rigid material such as wood, light weight metals such as aluminum, polymeric material, or other substantially rigid and light weight materials used for such purposes. The sports ball rack 10 may be vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material or injection molded using polymeric resin. The sports ball rack 10 is provided with support member 20 having an upper side 22, a lower side 24 and an outer periphery 26 which defines the area of the upper side 22 and lower side 24 of the support member 20. The sports ball rack 10 is further provided with a skirt 28 which abuts the outer periphery 26 of the support member 20 and extends in a downwardly direction perpendicularly from the support member 20 substantially as shown. The skirt 28 of the sports ball rack 10 is provided with a first side 30, a second side 31, a front side 32 and a back side 33.

[0016] The sports ball rack 10 is provided with a plurality of mounting brackets 34 which may be attached to either the upper side 22 of the support member 20 or to the back side 33 of the skirt 28 to provide for connection of the sports ball rack 10 to a stable object 36, such as the wall of a child's bedroom, a garage or the like. The plurality of mounting brackets 34 are connected to the stable object 36 with a plurality of connectors 38, such as standard screws or nut and bolt configurations. Alternatively, when the sports ball rack 10 is vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material, the plurality of mounting brackets 34 can be formed during the vacuum forming process so as to extend from either the upper side 22 of the support member 20 or from the back side 33 of the skirt 28 of the sports ball rack 10. The upper side 22 of the support member 20 is provided with a plurality of concave areas 40 found in the upper side 22 thereof which are adapted to receive a portion of balls used in sports activities, such as the basketball 12, the soccer ball 14, the football 16, the plurality of baseballs 18.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, a top plan view of the sports ball rack 10 of the present invention is shown. The back side 33 of the skirt 28 of the sports ball rack 10 can be seen as a substantially linear surface capable of conforming to the planar vertical surface of the stable object 36, such as a wall in a child's bedroom, a garage, or the like (shown in FIG. 1) for mounting attachment thereto. Such configuration, combined with the simplicity of the plurality of mounting brackets 34, allows the sports ball rack 10 to be quickly and easily mounted to the stable object 36 (shown in FIG. 1) with a minimum of equipment and technical skill.

[0018] The plurality of concave areas 40 formed in the upper side 22 of the support member 20 have been denoted alphanumerically as to more clearly describe the varying shapes and sizes. Each of the concave areas 40 are sized for receiving a portion of a sporting goods ball. Since balls for sporting activities vary greatly in size and shape, the concave areas 40 formed in the upper side 22 of the support member 20 similarly are of various sizes to accommodate the appropriate size and shaped sporting goods ball. For example the concave area 40 a is dimensioned so as to be substantially oval and having a diameter 42 sufficient to receive a large sporting ball such as the basketball 12 (shown in FIG. 1). The concave area 40 b is substantially tear-drop shaped and sized so as to receive the football 16 (shown in FIG. 1).

[0019] The concave 40 c is formed having a width sufficient to receive smaller sporting balls, such as the baseballs 18 (see FIG. 1) and is provided with a length 46 suitable for receiving the plurality of the baseballs 18 linearly disposed therein the concave area 40 c. The concave area 40 d is shown as being substantially round and having a diameter 48 capable of receiving larger sporting good balls, such as the soccer ball 14 (see FIG. 1). It should be understood however that the concave area 40 d is also suitable for accepting similarly sized balls such as a volleyball and that each of the concave areas 40 may be of various sizes as well as arranged in any manner on the upper side 22 of the support member 20 to make placement of the balls more convenient and for purposes of aesthetics and ease of construction. Furthermore, the overall dimension of the support member 20 of the sports ball rack 10 can be of any size suitable to receive from one to any number and type of sports balls. It can be seen that the overall construction of the sports ball rack 10 permits location of the sports ball rack 10 on the stable object 36 (shown in FIG. 1), such as a wall, at a level to accommodate a child or at a level which is not reachable by a child, whichever is preferable.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of the sports ball rack 10 of FIG. 2 is shown taken along line 3-3 thereof. It can be more readily seen that the first side 30 and the second side 31 of the skirt 28 are formed perpendicularly to the support member 20 and extending in a downwardly direction therefrom the lower side 24 of the support member 20. As previously mentioned, the sports ball rack 10 may be formed from a unitary sheet of polymeric material, such as quarter inch ABS plastic, which provides the rack with a thickness 50 corresponding to the thickness of the sheet of polymeric material used. In such construction, each of the plurality of concave areas 40 formed in the upper side 22 of the support member 20 correspond to a convex area 52 formed in the lower side 24 of the support member 20.

[0021] The concave areas 40 in the support member 20 are provided with a depth 56 extending out from below the lower side 24 of the support member 20 sufficient for retaining a portion of the supporting balls in a fixed position within the concave areas 40 of the upper side 22 of the support member 20. In one embodiment, the depth 56 of approximately one half inch is sufficient to accomplish a secure seating of the sporting good balls within the concave areas 40 of the upper side 22 of the support member 20. It should be understood however that concave areas 40 may be of any depth suitable to secure the sporting good balls on the upper side 22 of the support member 20. Additionally, it can be seen that the first side 30, second side 31, front side 32 (see FIG. 1), and back side 33 (see FIG. 1) of the skirt 28 serve to give the sports ball rack 10 a clean and neat appearance since the skirt 28 hides the deformed convex areas 52 protruding from the lower side 24 of the support member 20.

[0022] It is readily apparent from the foregoing description that a sports ball rack 10 formed from a unitary sheet of polymeric material is substantially light weight and simple to construct from inexpensive materials. A light weight sports ball rack 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is readily mountable to a stable object 36, such as a bedroom wall, without complex supports or expensive mounting procedures that would otherwise be necessary for a heavier apparatus. Additionally the sports ball rack 10 can be produced inexpensively because of it's simple design and unitary construction.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a sports ball rack 60 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The sports ball rack 60 is similar in construction to the sports ball rack 10 herein before described with the exception of the construction of a mounting bracket 80. That is, the sports ball rack 60 is substantially rectangular in configuration and is formed from a rigid material such as wood, light weight metals such as aluminum, polymeric material, or other substantially rigid and light weight materials used for such purposes. The sports ball rack 60 may be vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material or injection molded using polymeric resin. The sports ball rack 60 is provided with support member 62 having an upper side 64, a lower side 66 and an outer periphery 68 which defines the area of the upper side 64 and lower side 66 of the support member 62. The sports ball rack 60 is further provided with a skirt 70 which abuts the outer periphery 68 of the support member 62 and extends in a downwardly direction perpendicularly from the support member 62 substantially as shown. The skirt 70 of the sports ball rack 60 is provided with a first side 72, a second side 74, a front side 76 and a back side 78.

[0024] The mounting bracket 80 of the sports ball rack 60 extends upwardly from the upper side 64 of the support member 62 and is substantially aligned with the back side 78 of the skirt 70 to provide for connection of the sports ball rack 60 to a stable object such as the wall of a child's bedroom, a garage or the like. The mounting bracket 80 extends along a substantial length of the support member 62 substantially as shown. The mounting bracket 80 is provided with a plurality apertures 82 adapted to receive a connector, such as a screw or a bolt, such that upon disposing the connector through the apertures 82, the sports ball rack 60 can be connected to a stable object. When the sports ball rack 60 is vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material, the mounting bracket 80 can be formed during the vacuum forming process so as to extend from either the upper side 64 of the support member 62 or from the back side 78 of the skirt 70 of the sports ball rack 60. The upper side 64 of the support member 62 is provided with a plurality of concave areas 84 (denoted alphanumerically to represent varying shapes or sizes) formed in the upper side 64 thereof which are adapted to receive a portion of balls used in sports activities, such as a basketball, a soccer ball, the football, and a plurality of baseballs (see FIG. 1).

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of a sports ball rack 90 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The sports ball rack 90 is similar in construction to the sports ball racks 10 and 60 herein before described. That is, the sports ball rack 90 is substantially rectangular in configuration and is formed from a rigid material such as wood, light weight metals such as aluminum, polymeric material, or other substantially rigid and light weight materials used for such purposes. The sports ball rack 90 may be vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material or injection molded using polymeric resin. The sports ball rack 90 is provided with support member 92 having an upper side 94, a lower side 96 and an outer periphery 98 which defines the area of the upper side 94 and lower side 96 of the support member 92. The sports ball rack 90 is further provided with a skirt 100 which abuts the outer periphery 90 of the support member 92 and extends in a downwardly direction perpendicularly from the support member 92 substantially as shown. The skirt 100 of the sports ball rack 90 is provided with a first side 102, a second side 104, a front side 106 and a back side 108.

[0026] The sports ball rack 90 is provided with a mounting bracket 110 which extends upwardly from the upper side 94 of the support member 92. The mounting bracket 110 is substantially aligned with the back side 108 of the skirt 100 to provide for connection of the sports ball rack 90 to a stable object such as a wall of a child's bedroom, a garage or the like. The mounting bracket 110 extends lengthwise along a substantial portion of the upper side 94 of the support member 92 and has a length 112 which is less than a length 114 of the support member 92. The mounting bracket 110 of the support member 92 is provided with a front side 116 and a back side 118. The back side 118 of the mounting bracket 110 is substantially aligned with the back side 108 of the skirt 100 to provide for connection of the sports ball rack 90 to a stable object such as a wall of a child's bedroom, a garage or the like so as to be readily accessible to the reach of a child or an adult. The front side 116 of the mounting bracket 110 is sloped in the direction of concave areas 120 (designated as concave areas 120 a, 120 b, 120 c abd 120 d) and terminates a distance from the concave area 120 b substantially as shown. The mounting bracket 110 is provided with a plurality apertures 122 adapted to receive a connector, such as a screw or a bolt, such that upon disposing the connector through the apertures 122 and apertures 124 formed through the backside 108 of the skirt 100 (FIG. 6), the sports ball rack 90 can be connected to a stable object. When the sports ball rack 90 is vacuum formed from a uniform sheet of polymeric material, the mounting bracket 110 can be formed during the vacuum forming process so as to extend from either the upper side 94 of the support member 90 or from the back side 108 of the skirt 100 of the sports ball rack 90. The upper side 94 of the support member 92 is provided with the plurality of concave areas 120 a, 120 b, 120 c and 120 d which are adapted to receive a portion of balls used in sports activities, such as a basketball, a soccer ball, the football, and a plurality of baseballs (see FIG. 1).

[0027] The back side 108 of the skirt 100 and the backside 118 of the mounting bracket 110 of the sports ball rack 90 can be seen as a substantially linear surface capable of conforming to the planar vertical surface of a stable object, such as a wall in a child's bedroom, a garage, or the like for mounting the sports ball rack 90 to such stable object. Such configuration, combined with the simplicity of the mounting bracket 110, allows the sports ball rack 90 to be quickly and easily mounted to stable object with a minimum of equipment and technical skill.

[0028] The first side 102, the second side 104 and the front side 106 of the skirt 100 are provided with a plurality of lugs 126 which cooperate with the sloped front side 116 of the mounting bracket 110 to provide additional strength and support capabilities to the sports ball rack 90.

[0029] The plurality of concave areas 120 formed in the upper side 94 of the support member 92 have been denoted alphanumerically as to more clearly describe the varying shapes and sizes. Each of the concave areas 120 are sized for receiving a portion of a sporting goods ball. Since balls for sporting activities vary greatly in size and shape, the concave areas 120 formed in the upper side 94 of the support member 92 similarly are of various sizes to accommodate the appropriate size and shaped sporting goods ball. For example the concave area 120 a is dimensioned so as to be substantially oval and having a diameter 126 sufficient to receive a large sporting ball such as the basketball 12 (shown in FIG. 1). The concave area 120 b is substantially tear-drop shaped and sized so as to receive the football 16 (shown in FIG. 1).

[0030] The concave 120 c is formed having a width sufficient to receive smaller sporting balls, such as the baseballs 18 (see FIG. 1) and is provided with a length 128 suitable for receiving the plurality of the baseballs 18 (see FIG. 1) linearly disposed therein. The concave area 120 d is shown as being substantially round and having a diameter 130 capable of receiving larger sporting good balls, such as the soccer ball 14 (see FIG. 1). It should be understood however that the concave area 120 d is also suitable for accepting similarly sized balls such as a volleyball and that each of the concave areas 120 may be of various sizes as well as arranged in any manner on the upper side 94 of the support member 92 to make placement of the balls more convenient and for purposes of aesthetics and ease of construction. Furthermore, the overall dimension of the support member 92 of the sports ball rack 90 can be of any size suitable to receive from one to any number and type of sports balls. It can be seen that the overall construction of the sports ball rack 90 permits location of the sports ball rack 90 on the stable object (see FIG. 1), such as a wall, at a level to accommodate a child or at a level which is not reachable by a child, whichever is preferable.

[0031] As previously mentioned, the sports ball rack 90 may be formed from a unitary sheet of polymeric material, such as quarter inch ABS plastic. Each of the plurality of concave areas 120 formed in the upper side 94 of the support member 92 correspond to a convex area 130 formed in the lower side 96 of the support member 92 substantially as shown in FIG. 6.

[0032] Each of the concave areas 120 in the support member 92 are provided with a depth 132 extending out from below the lower side 96 of the support member 92 sufficient for retaining a portion of the supporting balls in a fixed position within the concave areas 120 of the upper side 94 of the support member 92. The depth of the concave area 120 can vary widely. However, the depth 132 of approximately one half inch is sufficient to accomplish a secure seating of the sporting good balls within the concave areas 120 of the upper side 94 of the support member 92. Additionally, it can be seen that the first side 102, second side 104, front side 106 and back side 108 of the skirt 100 serve to give the sports ball rack 90 a clean and neat appearance since the skirt 100 hides the deformed convex areas 130 protruding from the lower side 96 of the support member 92.

[0033] It is readily apparent from the foregoing description that the sports ball racks 10, 60 and 90 formed from a unitary sheet of polymeric material are substantially light weight and simple to construct from inexpensive materials. Further the light weight sports ball racks 10, 60 and 90 constructed in accordance with the present invention are readily mountable to a stable object, such as a bedroom wall, without complex supports or expensive mounting procedures that would otherwise be necessary for a heavier apparatus.

[0034] From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While the presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and defined herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports ball rack connectable to a wall, comprising: a support member having an upperside, a lowerside, an outer periphery which defines the upper side and lower side of the support member, and a plurality of concave areas formed in the upper side of the support member, each of the concave areas sized and shaped to receive a portion of at least one ball corresponding to the size and shape of the concave area; and a mounting bracket attached to the support member and extending along a portion of the back side thereof for connecting the sports ball rack to the wall.
 2. The sports ball rack of claim 1 , further comprises: a skirt having a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the skirt abutting the outer periphery of the support member and extending in a downward direction perpendicular to the support member.
 3. The sports ball rack of claim 2 , wherein the mounting bracket extends upwardly from the upper side of the support member and is substantially aligned with the back side of the skirt.
 4. The sports ball rack of claim 3 , wherein the mounting bracket has a front side and a back side, the back side of the mounting bracket being substantially aligned with the back side of the skirt and the front side of the mounting bracket being sloped in the direction of the concave areas of the support member.
 5. The sports ball rack of claim 1 , wherein the concave areas in the support member are provided with a depth extending out from below the lower side of the support member sufficient for retaining a portion of the supporting balls in a fixed position within the concave areas of the upper side of the support member.
 6. The sports ball rack of claim 1 , wherein each of the concave areas is at least one of a different size and a different shape than the other concave areas of the support member.
 7. The sports ball rack of claim 2 , wherein each of the front side, the back side, the first side, and the second side of the skirt is provided with a plurality of lugs. 